Wow, another month down. I am so happy that we are moving on to spring. March was socially an uneventful month for me, but I did get to spend time with families, navigate through some changes at work, and enjoy rest time.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on and/or purchase from some links, I make a portion of the sale. This helps keep Bitch Bookshelf running.
I’m a children’s librarian, so I read books for kids and for grown-ups. This month, I read 2 picture/early reader books and 4 “big” books, including audiobooks, adult novels, and chapter books for children. My average rating this month was 4 stars.
How to Steal a Scoundrel’s Heart by Vivienne Lorret
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
What this book does well it does really well, but Prue just wasn’t the heroine for me and I found the discussion of virginity to be at once progressive and regressive. The ending dragged out. But the entire concept of the plot is a ton of fun!
@daily.manifestationx On a #booktok roll tonight #romancebooks #romancebooktok ♬ original sound – Marissa
A Book of Babies by Il Sung Na
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cute story, beautiful illustrations!
That’s Betty!: The Story of Betty White by Gregory Bonsignore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fun biography and fiction story about a kid writing a report on Betty White with help from a mysterious stranger…
The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I LOVED Tsarina and somehow loved The Tsarina’s Daughter even more. Elizabeth wasn’t always a likeable character, but I couldn’t help but root for her. Just like with Tsarina, though perhaps the first half took me some time to read (not due to slowness – these are just long books!), once I hit the second half I could not put this book down. My thanks for the ARC and look out for my full review and giveaway on bitchbookshelf.com this Saturday!
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The best romance novel I have read in years.
@daily.manifestationx One of my favorite romances I’ve read in years 😍 🏳️⚧️ ❤️ #greenscreen #booktok #romancebooks #romancebooktok #historicalromance ♬ original sound – Marissa
The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This one was one of those books I didn’t love but still emotionally moved me. I like my romances a little more direct and passionate, but the story and characters still resonated with me… and maybe I found them and their situation a little relatable. I definitely got emotional while reading this one and it inspired me to do some of my own writing for the first time in a few months, too.
@daily.manifestationx I enjoyed this one a lot. It’s 100% a romance but didn’t feel romance-y enough to me for some reason though. #booktok #romancebooktok #romancebooks ♬ original sound – Marissa
A Peek Into My Planner
I’ve been trying to fill out my planner each day to keep myself organized and to use the plethora of planner supplies and stickers I possess. (I use The Happy Planner.) I started a brand new planner (well, two of them, actually) in January. Here are the spreads I shared in March.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
I’ve been keeping track of my moods to keep an eye on my depression and anxiety. In 2022, I also began habit tracking various aspects of my life, though I got overwhelmed with the process in February and have scaled back quite a bit, but on the blog I’ll just continue to share moods:
- Good – 10 days
- Okay – 5 days
- Productive – 5 days
- Great – 3 days
- Happy – 2 days
- Lazy – 2 days
- Relaxed – 2 days
- Emotional – 1 day
- Thankful – 1 day
I have been posting almost every day about my witchier interests on TikTok and also just having fun with it. I’m also sharing some #booktok posts there and just updates about my life in NYC.
@daily.manifestationx Where my fellow Scorpio Moon babes at? #astrology #astrologytiktok ♬ original sound – Kolter Bouchard
I also watched Fresh, The Batman, and Spencer.
Looking Ahead: April
For a limited time I have a shortened commute, so I’m just looking forward to a fun, warm spring in NYC.
